**Originally Listed at $600**

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A pair of seated figures, dressed very similarly; one appears to have breasts, but otherwise they are nearly identical, with skirts, crosshatched applied decorations on the shoulders, matching necklaces, earrings, and headdbands over smoothed hair. Size: 6.5" W x 7.1" H (16.5 cm x 18 cm)

West Mexican shaft tomb figures like this one derive their names from the central architectural feature that we know of from this culture. These people would build generally rectangular vertical shafts down from the ground level down to narrow horizontal tunnels that led to one or more vaulted or rounded burial chambers. The geomorphology in the area means that these chambers are dug out of tepetate, a type of volcanic tuff material, which give the chambers a rough-edged look. Although the dimensions of the chambers vary considerably - some only large enough to hold a single burial and its offerings, others seem designed to hold entire lineages - the placement of burial goods like this hollow figure was very similar. Grouped with other hollow figures, and alongside clay bowls, and boxes, they were positioned around the body (or bodies), near the skull. Unfortunately, we lack the information we would need to understand what these figures were made for - do they represent everyday people, even individuals? Are they religious? Were they created to mediate between the living and the dead? Whatever their purpose, today they are beautiful artwork and reminders of the mysterious past.

Provenance: Ex-Southern California collection acquired in the early 1970's

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#117887

One head reattached other intact, both generally excellent